Even after more than a decade of epic science-fiction stories, creating interesting original music comes first for Coheed and Cambria, which performs in Jackson Nov. 6. Photo by Courtesy Lindsey Byrnes
Coheed and Cambria is a band that defies classification. Elements of metal, punk, post-hardcore and pop are interwoven so thoroughly that critics and fans raise the proverbial white flag and call it "progressive rock." The New York quartet's noncompliance runs deeper than jumping from genre to genre, though; it can't even stay in one art medium.
Coheed and Cambria has made the leap from audio to visual with its career-spanning concept "The Amory Wars," an underlying science-fiction tale that singer and guitarist Claudio Sanchez crafted. Sanchez teamed up with artists such as Gus Vazquez ("Sunfire & Big Hero 6") and Christopher Shy ("Pathfinder") for a number of graphic novels and an ongoing series from Sanchez's Evil Ink Comics.
Author Peter David followed the series with his 2010 prequel novel, "Year of the Black Rainbow," which coincided with the release of the band's fifth studio album of the same name.
In February 2013, shortly after the release of the second half of the band's "The Afterman" double album, Coheed and Cambria announced that producers Mark Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson were eyeing "The Amory Wars" as a potential live-action film.
But even with these momentous movements in the band's narrative, music has and always will exceed story for Coheed and Cambria's lead guitarist Travis Stever, 34. The same goes for the other band members: drummer Josh Eppard and bassist Zach Cooper.
"We're always most concerned with doing what's best for a song," Stever says. "The story has a life of its own, and though they work together, the music has to come first. Of course, there is emphasis within everything—things that we do because the story needs it, but the music stands on its own."
Stever, a founding member of the band, is no stranger to writing songs that sync with Sanchez's vision.
"Claudio has definitely shifted lyrically and grown over the years," he says. "That's just the way it is with music. You move on as a band, and you try things and ecperiment with different sounds and styles."
Stever says this natural stylistic shifting has been both a blessing and a curse for Coheed and Cambria, but one that he's thankful to have.
"I see us as a band that's lucky. We've never been confined," Stever says. "I know it gets hard to be placed as a band on tours because it's hard to put us into one category. But I feel fortunate for us to be that kind of band, one that isn't easy to categorize."
After a series of summer festivals, Coheed and Cambria is back on the road and will play in Jackson Nov. 6. Also performing are experimental post-hardcore band Balance and Composure and I The Mighty, an up-and-coming progressive-rock group from San Francisco.
"This tour is going to be really cool for us because we just finished doing those festivals, and there are time constraints and things you have to do," Stever says. "With this tour, we get to do our own show and play a bunch of different tunes from the whole catalogue. People will really get a full dose of what we do."
Coheed and Cambria, Balance and Composure, and I The Mighty perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at Hal & Mal's (200 S. Commerce St., 601-948-0888). Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. The show is all ages, and those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Visit coheedandcambria.com and ardenland.net.
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